University in Prison with The Crito Project
October 14, 2024Posted by:
A Collaborative Effort
The Crito Project is a unique charity - the only organisation of its kind in the UK - celebrating the 10th anniversary of its official launch. The project sends university lecturers into prisons to teach degree level studies in philosophy to prisoners. Supported by PeoplePlus, and enabled by the University of East Anglia, the project has operated in seven prisons across East Anglia to date.
Its been a decade of challenges - so recent developments make late 2024 an important turning point for The Crito Project and partners.
Prison based-students will soon be able to study the Arts and Humanities, in addition to Philosophy. For individuals who complete the programme during their sentence, their learning now represents the same credit value as the first year of a university-based degree. This achievement marks a step-change in potential demand across the UK.
Global Inspiration
The project is inspired by the Bard Prison Initiative (BPI) in the United States, which was founded by Max Keller in 1999.
As with the BPI, Crito is driven by the belief that higher education should be available to everyone, including those in prison. Ben Walker (pictured above), Honorary Lecturer, UEA School of Politics, Philosophy & Area Studies, Crito Project Founder and Course Director is well aware that this idea divides opinion.
Underpinning Crito is the principle that universities should take an active role in reaching out to students and that the value of higher education, particularly when offered in the prison system, makes it worth pursuing despite the obvious barriers.
When asked which philosopher inspired him to create Crito, Ben shared, “It was a rich hypocrite, Seneca, who took up optional poverty, and who said that we should consider where our attention goes, that dedicating our lives to helping others is the only way to create real value.” His response speaks volumes about the core mission.
Marking the Milestone
The gathering was held at Earlham House, UAE, in early October 2024, and brought together people who have contributed to delivering this distinctive project.
To raise awareness of the future potential of Crito’s work, attendees watched the first episode of the iconic three-part documentary series College Behind Bars, produced by Skiff Mountain Films and directed by Lynn Novak. The series, created in 2011, and broadcast by PBS in the US, offers disarmingly frank reflections by incarcerated college students on the Bard Prison Initiative – including Rodney Spivey-Jones.
The BPI is a long-standing source of inspiration for Ben and his colleagues. Their model in the States demonstrates the potential of higher education in the UK. There is no reliance on taxpayers as the initiative is funded by private investment and support. The BPI now delivers university in prison with over 250 colleges and universities and is multiplying the power of higher education as it expands across the USA.
Expanding Horizons and Continuing Success – Why Not Here?
The event also served as a pre-launch for the next chapter of The Crito Project, which kicks off in January 2025. Key stakeholders (see image below) including Sheirra Matthewson, Director of Strategy and Solutions, Justice, at PeoplePlus, Karen Dollery, Head of Education, Skills & Work, HMP Warren Hill and Tom Greaves, Associate Professor, UEA School of Politics, Philosophy & Area Studies, and Chair of the Crito Project joined special guest Rodney Spivey-Jones to talk about their ambitions for the future.
Rodney is a graduate of the Bard Prison Initiative who embodies the potential for self-discovery and change. He was released in 2021 after 19 years, having completed his BA in Social Studies while incarcerated. Rodney joined the event online from Minnesota, before heading off to work for the day in his role as Manager at the Center for Justice & Economic Advancement, at Justice For the Future. Rodney is a BPI 2017 Graduate.
Rodney’s positive presence was powerful testament to the long-term impact of university in prison. Among the many personal benefits of being a student while incarcerated, graduates of the Bard Prison Initiative are significantly less likely to reoffend compared to the US national average, aligning with the success PeoplePlus has seen in reducing recidivism through our educational programmes in twenty-two prisons in England.
Sheirra Matthewson, Director of Strategy and Solutions, Justice, at PeoplePlus, remarked, “The pace of this project may appear glacial, but every success is important, and there have been many.” When thanking PeoplePlus, Ben was keen to emphasise how important we are to the Crito mission, adding, “We really couldn’t do it without you.”
As PeoplePlus continues to support The Crito Project, the hope is to reach even more incarcerated individuals, proving that every investment in prison education pays dividends—not just for individuals, but for society.
The Future of Prison Education - Supporting The Crito Project
To learn more about The Crito Project and how PeoplePlus is helping to make their mission possible, please visit the official website here. You can also watch the preview of the College Behind Bars documentary series here to gain deeper insight into the transformative power of education in prisons.
For inquiries, please contact [email protected]
October 14, 2024Posted by:
